Winding and twisting machine



Oct. Z0 1925- C. R. KEEFER WINDING AND TwIsTNG MACHINE Filed oct. e, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. 20,1925'. 1,558,119

. C. R. KEEFER WINDING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed Oct. -6, 1924 6 Sl'xeets-Sheetl 2 Tg g l c. R. Kr-:EFER

WINDING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed oct. e, 1924 e sheets-shea s M78 65 /06' LJ," /0 B ,05%, Y /03 f f I l.

Oct. 20, 1925- C. R. KEEFER `wnumie AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 on. zo, 1925 1,558,179

C. R. KEEFER WINDING AND TWISTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A7. KEEFE'H.

Oct. 20, 1925- 1,558,179

c. R. KEEFER WINDING AND TWISTIG MACHINE -Filed oct.. e, 1924 s sheets-Sheet e 54 Y I y :j I 6:9 83

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Stimm mt Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED `STATES CHARLES R. KEEFER, OF BAL'll'lIORE, MARYLAND..

WINDING- AND TWISTING MACHINE.

Application ined october e, 1924, serial No. 742,015.

To ait ywhom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. Knnrnr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State Of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVinding and Twisting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to winding and twisting machines, and especially to an improved form of machine for making chenille and tinsel garlands.

One object of this invention is to greatly simplify the operation of machines of this character and to eliminate the necessity of employing` one of the persons who is necessarily employed in operating' previously known machines of this character efliciently, thus greatly reducing the cost of operation and the resultant cost of the products of such machines.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which eliminates the necessity for numerous and variously proportioned interchanoeable prongs around which the weft or wint ing line is wound as the prelii'ninary step in forming the chenille or tinsel gai-lands.

Another object is to provide a device of this character with a greatly simplified, very quickly and conveniently adjustable device for forming what is known as zig-zag chenille or tinsel gai-lands.

Another object is to provide an endless double-loop feeding' wire or line in lieu of the separate feeding wires employed in previously known machines of this kind, for assisting the weft in its forward movement along the parallel. and laterally adjustable prongs or grooved bars around which the weft is wound, thus assuring an equa-l rate of travel for the feeding parts of the machine.

A furtherobject is to provide a machine of this kind with a simple and .improved form of circular knife Sharpener mounted in suc-h relation tothe knife that it can be quickly and properly brought into the sharpening relation with the knife without interfering with the operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character 'having ktensioning wheels lon pivotally mounted arms which have ytheir pivoted axes in fixed relation to the prong-s or spaced and grooved bars around which the weft is wound; these" tensioning` wheels, therefore, being' adjustable with' said prongs.

Another object is to eliminate waste of the y that of previously known machines of this character.

Another object is to provide a very simple and eifective tensioning adjustment for the endless feed wire. y

Other objects and important features will be pointed out or impliedA in the following' details of description, in connection withthe accompanying` ,drawings in which:

Fig. l is afront elevation of the machine, parts of the frame being broken away, and the spool holders,lnife Sharpener, front carriage, and the carriage-operating and supporting members, being omitted Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. l, with the exception of certain members above the bed-plate and others near the bottom of the machine being broken off and omitted, two of the weft-'carrying spools being shown, and the positions of the centers of other spools being` indicated in broken lines, and designated by the same reference charactersv as those of the weft-spools;

Fig. 3 is a right'side view of the parts shown in Fig. I, lparts: of the frame being broken away, also having parts of certain wheels 'breken `vaway to more clearly show the partslwhich are beyondA such `wl1eels','c`ertain parts under'th'ebed-plate beingv` omitted;

Fig' 4 is a left side view Yof the entire frame. structure withV the exception' of the part `broken out of the lower enbase-beams; thisview showing also the operating mecha.-

nism for the front carriage or spindle-carriage in connection with the main driving shaft, and the correlated guiding elements on the bed-plate;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the spindlecarriage and a portion of the endless wire or band which operates the spindles on this carriage;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5 and the track-wires on which the spindle-carriage travels;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the weftspool carriers, the spool-retaining element being shown in broken lines in position for permitting removal and replacement of spools; a

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the spool holders, the tensioning spring and washer being omitted;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 9 9v of Figs. 3 and 10;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the laterally adjustable prongs or spaced bars around which the weft is wound, and the immediate adjuncts of such beams;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line 11-11 of FiO. 2, the locations of certain wheels being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 12- 12 of Fig. 2, showing the adjustable construction of the knife-holding and knifeoperating mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along the line 13-13 of Fig. 2, the weft-spool-holders being omitted;

Fig. 14 is a top plan View of the circular knife, the knife-Sharpener, and the adjustable support for the knife and knife-holder;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view along the line 15-15 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 16 is a front elevation view of the adjustable knife-Sharpener detached, and its sharpening wheel out of the sharpening position shown in Fig. 14.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond to similar parts throughout the several views, and now referring especially to Figure 4, it will be seen that the main frame 2O includes one or more base beams 2l, preferably two of these base beams, as indicated in Fig. 2, and on these base beams are supported the front frame section 22 and the rear frame section 23, the lathe including a pair of front posts and a pair of rear posts, each of these posts including legs which stand upon the base beam. The front 'frame section may include either one or more uprights or posts supporting a horizontal beam 24 to which is secured two track Wires 25 on which the spindle carriage 26 (Figures 4, 5, and 6) is caused to travel by means of a line 27. In this connection, it is explained that the word linea is intended as a broad term which includes a wire, a cable, a rope, a chain or other similar flexible element employed for transmission or traction. This line 27 has its ends connected to the carriage 26 by any appropriate means, and passes around any one of the group of stepped pulleys indicated at 2S, these pulleys being secured on a shaft 29 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame section 23. The front end of the line 27 extends around a wheel 30 on the front frame section 22. On the shaft 29 is also carried a spur-gear 3l which meshes with a spur-pinion 32 which is fixedly united with a sprocket-wheel 33, these elements 32 and 33 being journaled on a stud 34 which is secured on the frame section 23 by any appropriate means. A sprocket-chain 35 connects the gear-wheel 33 with a similar gear-wheel or sprocket-wheel 36 which latter is secured on a shaft 37 which is journaled in bearings on the frame 23. The shaft 37 has a relatively large sprocketwheel 38 secured thereon, which carries a chain 39 connecting it to a relative small sprocket-wheel 40, the latter being secured to the main driving shaft 4l which may be turned by any appropriate means (not shown). From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the train of gearing from 31 to 40, inclusive, causes the shaft 29 and grooved wheels 28 to turn very slowly in comparison to the speed of the shaft 41 and sprocket-wheel 40, thus moving the carriage 26 slowly along the track wires 25, towards the beam 24.

The construction and purpose of the spinelle-carriage 26 will now be explained in connection with Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, as follows:

The main body of the carriage 26 constitutes a frame including two horizontal beams 42 having their ends secured to two other horizontal beams, the latter being indicated at 43; these latter beams have wheels 44 journaled thereon and provided with annular grooves which receive the track-wires 25 on which the carriage 26 travels. .k pair of spindles 45 are jonrnaled in suitable bearings on this carriage, and each spindle is provided with a hook 46 to which is secured one end of the strands of lines which are twistedgtogether with the weft or winding lines which have been cut in the process of forming the two separate strings or lines of chenille or tinsel garlands. ln other words, these spindles not only twist the strands or lines which form the center of each string of chenille or tinsel garland, but also pull these central strands or lines, therebyv feeding the work forward while the weft lines are being wound thereon. Each spindle 45 is provided with a grooved pulley, preferably a step-pulley, as shown at 47. The carriage is also provided with grooved guide pulleys 48 and 49 which are suit-ably jourlill:

naled on the spindle carriage 'for changing the direction oit' motion of a belt or endless line 50 which passes about these guide-pulleys, about the step-pulleys e7, and about a driving pulley 51 which is carried by a sha'tt 52 on the traine This shalt is rotated by ineans ot a sprocket-wheel 53, a chain -le and a sprocket-wheel o, the latter being' on and rotatable with the niain driving shaft 4l. lt should be understood that the step-pulley 51 and sprocket-wheel 53 are secured on and rotatable with the shatt 52. The belt or endless line 5() is provided with a tightening pulley 56 and a weight 57, the latter being attached to the pulley 56 by a line 58 passing about a `guide pulley 59 which is journaled on the trent part of the lnain traine and causes the line 5S to pull the tightening pulley 56 forward and downward, thus taking up slack of the belt and causing this belt to hug the pulleys Ll-T and 5l siu'iiciently -for driving the spindles 46.

The central depending part GO, ot the spindle carriage, on which the guide pulleys 4:9 are journaled, is provided with eyes Gl or other anchoring ineans to which the ends of the line 27 are secured.

H `Jing` described the niechanisin by which the central threads or lines ot the chenille or tinsel garland are twisted and carried forward, it is now explained that the reference character A represents the product or goods being inade by this inachine, and that such goods may be either chenille or tinsel garland, according to the character ot the elements or lines coinposing the saine. ln Figure #lf is shown only one strand or string oit such chenille or tinsel garland` the other strand or string` being hidden behind the one here shown. ln Figure '-l is also shown one oi' the two spreading guides (S2, one ot the two tensioning wheels 6?, and one ot the longitudinally `eioored parallel bars or prongs bil, these three elements being inost intimately correlated with the tinsel garland or chenille at and adjacent to the point where its forniat-ion begins.

New, referring especially to Figu l, 2 and 3, and inost especially to Figure 2, and again calling attention to the parts 62, and G-l, it will be seen that the weft lines or tinsel, indicated at B, are carried on any number ont the spools 65, on spool-carriers (S6 such as shown in Figures 6 and T. These spool-carriers will presently be described ,in detail. They are secured on a disk or rotary plate (i7 which has its hub 68 rotatably mounted on a hollow journal 69, this journal being supported on a plate lT() which iorins an upward extension et the traine and has an opening 7l (see Figure 13) which communicates with the hollow of the journal 69. The grooved bars or prongs 5a extend through this hollow, and through a ring T2 which serres to guide the wett B onto the bars or prongs 64 as the disk 67 rotates and carries the spools G5 around these bars or prongs (ist. A pair ot triangular plates 73 (Figures 2, 9 and l0) are clamped on the grooyed bars Gil by means ot' one or incre screws T/-l which extend through these triangular plates. The lower one ot these plates guides and forwardly propels the wett lines as they pass under the bars 6l, and the upper one siinilarly guides the wett lines they pass over such bars. The bars Sil have their rear ends clamped between upper and lower cross bars 7,5 and 7S (Figs. 2, 9 and 10) and the lower one of these bars is secured to the rear part et the plate by ineans of supporting angle plates 'TT which may be riveted to such plate 70. rlhc front ends of the bars 6d are supported by upright portions 78 ot a pair or laterally adjustable units or carriages 79 on which the tensioning wheels 63 are supported through the inediuin oit pivotally mounted arnis SO. lhe. tensioning arins are provided with springs 8l which constantly press thein towards the bars Gel, so that the wheels 63 have their grooves in open communication withk the grooves of the bars G-l. As seen in Figure 9, these latter grooves are in the outer edges of the bars (il, and they receive an endless feeding wire 82 (Figs. 2 and 3) which extends around a roller 83 and around a pair of groored wheels 84, the top parts ot' this endless wire being parallel (Figure 2) and the lower parts thereof crossing one another at S2 (Figure The wheels Set Fig. 3) `are rotated in the direction of the arrow, thereby carrying` these top parts oit the vir-e S2 forward, ther feeding the winding lll 't the weft lii forward at equal speeds along the bars The windings lil also extend around the base st ands or lines each ot which constitutes one ot the core elements or base elements ot one of the string ot' chenille or tinsel garland, these base strands being indicated at S5. They are unwound troni spools 8G, pass over the roller S15, through the hollow journal (if) 2 and 4i3), along the bars (il, and are each twisted together' with threads or lines 87 (Figs. 2 and 3), which latter are unwound troni spools 8S, extend through openings 89 in a hed-plate 90, thence extend over guiding arnis ill to and around the grooyed tensioning or presser wheels G3.

rlChe lower edge ot the circular knite 92 (lligs. 2, 3 and l2) extends between the bars (il at a point lbetween the wheels 68,

land is cooperative with an upwardly extending lower knii'e 93 (Fig. l2) for cutting the windings B1 (Fig. 2) at this point where the strands and S7 begin to twist about one another, in consequence of their on the main driving shaft 11.

connections with the spindles i16 which are described in connection with Figures Ll, and 6. It will be seen that these twisted strands embrace between them the lengths of weft thread or line which are formed by the cut windings B1, and it will also be seen that the guides 62 cause the twisted strands to diverge from the feeding wire 82 and leave the latter free to continue its forward movement around the wheels 84, back under the bed-plate 90 and under a guiding roller 9a, thence up over the roller 83, and thence forward as previously described. Such feeding wire 82 causes the windings B1 to move forward along the grooved bars 64, at a speed that can not be other than equal for both loops of this wire thereby assisting the carriage 26 in feeding the chenille or tinsel garlands forward. From the foregoing, it will be seen that this machine forms two strings of tinsel garlands or chenille simultaneously, and that such product of the machine is formed of the lines B and the strands 85 and 87; or in other words, each string of such product in formed of one-half of the windings B1 twisted in between the strand 85 and the strand 87 at one side of the knife 92.

The disk 67 is on the same hub 68 with the sprocket-wheel 95 which carries a chain 96 that extends down to the sprocket-wheel 97. This latter sprocket is united with a gear wheel 98 (Fig. 1), preferably a bevelgear, which meshes with a similar gear 99 The gearwheel 98 and sprocket-wheel 97 are united with a shaft 100 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the lower part of the main frame 28. It will be seen, therefore, that the spools 66 are carried around by means of the train of gearing 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99, through the medium of the shafts 11 and 100.

The wheels 84, which carry the endless wire 82, are feather-keyed on the shaft 29 which is jonrnaled on the front part of the frame 23. The spur gear 31 drives said shaft, as previously described.

T he knife 92 is provided with a sprocketwheel 101 which rotates therewith, the axis of these elements 102 and 101 being on an arm 103 which is supported on an axle 104; which has rotary movement for a purpose presently explained. The sprocket-wheel 101 is connected to a larger sprocket-wheel 105 by means of a driving chain 106. The sprocket-wheel 105 is mounted on a shaft 107 which carries a grooved pulley 108. The shaft 107 is rotatable in bearings on a standard 109 which is supported on the bed-plate 90 and is secured by bolts or other appropriate means. The wheel 108 is operated by the main shaft 11. through the medium of a belt 110, a relatively large intermediate pulley 111, a relatively small intermediate pulley 112, a belt 113 and a large driving pulley 114, the latter being secured on and rotatable with the shaft 111. By this train of transmission gearing, it will be seen that the knife 92 is driven at a very high rate of speed in comparison to that of the main driving shaft.

The knife 92 may be sharpened at any time during operation of the machine, while said knife is rotating by means of an abrasive wheel 115 rotatably mounted on an arm 116 (Figures 3, l and 16), said arm being pivotally mounted in bearings 117 of a clamp 118. A handle 119 extends radially from the pivot or axle of the arm 116, and a spring 120 connects withl said pivot or axle and with one of the bearings 117 for yieldingly holding the abrasive wheel 115 out of contact with the knife A92. Then it is desired to sharpen the knife, the operator swings the handle 119 in the direction for moving the abrasive wheel against the knife 92, or into the position shown in Figure 14:. The axle 104 is journaled in bearings 121 and 122 of an adjustable unit, preferably the casting which also includes a forward extension 123 having a slot 1211 therethrough, and a screw 125 extends through this slot into the bed-plate 90. By loosening this screw, the said unit may be moved forward or rearward for adjusting the knife 92 horizontally, such adjustment being desirable in consequence of the decreasing size of the knife as it becomes ground away in the operation of sharpening. The adjustment of this unit also tends to move the knife 92 forward or backward, and this latter knife is individually adjustable as follows:

The knife 98 is supported by a vertical rod 126 which is vertically adjustable in a hearing 127 provided with a screw to hold it in its different adjustments. rlhe bearing 127 is united with a rod 128 which extends forward into a bearing 129 which is provided with a screw for holding the bearing 127 in its different adjustments. The bearing 129 is secured on the lower end of the vertical shaft st., as shown, or by any approjn'iate means. The knife 92 is also vertically adjustable on the shaft 10-1 by loosening the screw 130, and tightening such screw after moving the arnl 1,0?) np or down.

For the purpose ol' swinging the knives 92 and 98 laterally of the grooved bars 6l, the shaft 104: is provided with an arni 131. having pivoted thereto an apertured element 132 which connects with an operating mechanisxn which will presently be described Vin connection with the operation of forming zig-Zag products viz, chenille or tinsel garland. The bed-plate 90 is provided with a slot 133 in which the rod 126 mov-es laterally. 1t will also be seen that the bed plate has a slot or opening 1341 therethrough` Cri through which the shaft 104 and its lower bearing extends.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it willv bn that the apertured element 132 (referred to in the preceding paragraph) receives a rod 135 having collars 136 thereon, also surrounded by springs 137, one of such springs on each side of the member 132 their outer ends pressing against the collars 136, thus holding the rod 135 lin yielding relation to the member 132. The rod 135 has a rod 133 pivoted thereto, and this rod 133 is slidable in bearings 139 on the bed-plate. rlhe rod 133 is also piv'oted to a lever 149, this lever being pivotally mounted on a bearing 141 on the frame 23. y1`he lever 140 is provided with a stud or roller 142 against which a cam 143 rotates, this cam being carried by a shaft 144 having a vertical axis and being adjustably mounted on the frame 23, that is, mounted in an adjustable bearing 145, the adjustment of this bearing being forward and rearward. A spring 147 is secured to the lever 140 and to a screw which holds an adjustable element 143 on which one of theguides 62 is supported. rllhis spring pulls the lever 140 inward after each time it is pushed outward by the cam 143.

The shaft 144 carries a pulley 149, preferably a step-pulley having a grooved periphery, and this pulley is connected to a steppulley 150 by means of a belt 151, this belt being guided by a pair of guide-pulleys 152 which are supported on an adjustably mounted bracket 153, the adjustment of this bracket being such as to compensate for the different positions of the belt 151 on the different units of each guide-pulley 149 and 150. The step-pulley 150 is mounted on the shaft 37, so that it is driven by the main shaft, through the medium of gearing which has previously been described. By means of this zig-zag mechanism, Ajust previously described, it will be seen that the knives will be constantly reciprocated laterally when the belt 151 is on during operation of the machine, so that such knives will cut the weft B1 alternately short and long at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the machine, thus giving to the chenille or tinsel garland the scolloped appearance. l/Vhen it is desired to make the chenille or tinsel garland even insteadv of scolloped, the belt 151 is removed from the pulley 149, and the member 132 secured in its central position by means of screws 154 (Fig. 2) which abut against the opposite side of this member 132, but which are unscrewed when the zig-Zag mechanism is to be operated.

'llhese screws serve to limit the swing of the arm 131, according to their adjustment towards and from this arm. The springs 137 are compressed for permitting the rod 135 to reciprocate the same distance at every stroke thereof, regardless of the various adjustments of the screws 154.

For the purpose of varying the cross section of the chenille or tinsel garland, an adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the grooved bars 64 toward and from one another, thereby varying the length of the turns or windings i 1, and accordingly varying the f lengths of the cut sections of the weft lines. Such adjusting mechanism also includes means for varying the distance between the grooved wheels 84 and the endless wire 82 carried thereby. Such mechanism best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11, while Figs. 9 and 10 show separately the bars 64 and the means for holding them in their adjusted positions. The prime mover or handle of such adjusting mecha'- nism is indicated at 155, being secured on a shaft 156 provided with right-hand screw threads 157 and left-hand screw-threads 153. The screw threads 157 and 158 mesh with internal threads of two adjusting bars 159 and 160, respectively, having their front ends fitted into annular groovesof the hubs of the wheels S4. Thesewheels are featherkeyed on the shaft 29 by means of a key 161, so they can slide axially on the shaft while being rotated thereby. Collars or other appropriate stops may be provided on the shaft 156 to prevent undue strain on the levers 159 and 160 by any efort to move the wheels 84 or the carriers or carriages 79 beyond their limits of travel. Referring to Figure 11, it will be seen that each carriage 79 is formed witha rib 162 which is slidingly fitted in a slot 163 of the bed-plate 90, these being alined slotsk which communicate with the central opening 134 through which the vertical shaft164 extends.y A screw 164 extends through an opening` in one end of each adjusting bar 159 and 160, and. is threaded into the rib 162 of the carriage 7 9 to which it is secured for Veffecting thelateral y adjustment of such carriage. Each carriage 79 is provided with a thumb screw 165 which extends through a slot 166and is adapted to be tightened for securing its carriage 79 in the adjusted position. 'One of the carriages 79 is provided with an index fingerv 167, and the bed-plate 90 is provided with an index scale 168, whereby the operator can gageA the distance between the bars 64.4 Before adjusting Lthe bars y64, of course the screws 74 and 7 5a must be loosened, also the thumb-screws 165 of the respective carriages 9, andthe thumb-screws 83b should be turned so as to cause wire S2 to become slack; and now, by turning the handle 155 clockwise, the adj usting bars 159 and 16() are caused to move away from one another, and this widens the dist-ance between` the bars 64 and obviously, when it is desired to lessen the distance between the` bars 64, the wheel 155 is turned Gil contra-clockwise; and the screws 74, 83b and 165 must now be tightened for securing the adjusted parts in position. The roller 94 is mounted on an arm 169 which isu adjustably mounted on a shaft or stud 170, and held in its position by means of a set screw 171.

Each carriage 79 is provided with a grooved guide-wheel 172 over which the top parts of the endless wires 82 travel. These wheels cooperating with the wheels 63 for holdingthe endless wire S2 in the grooves of the bars 64.

Referring again to the track wires 25, it will be seen that a pair of uprights or standards 25'l support the rear ends of such track wires. In order that the carriage 26 may be returned to its starting point on the wires 25, without reversing the motion of the gearing of the machine, a ratchet-wheel 173 is secured on the step-wheel or pulley 28, and these united members 26 and 173 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 29 when the ratchet-wheel is out of engagement with a pawl 174. This pawl is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 175 which may press against a flat side of a pintle 176 on which the pawl'174 is secured. This pintle and the spring 175 are carried by a member 177 which is secured on the shaft 29, and the pintle is provided with a handle 180 by which it may be turned'for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet 173. Then the ratchl et is thus disengaged, the step-pulley 28 rotates freely on the shaft 29 While returning the carriage.

The bed-plate is provided with ope-nings 90a through which the belt 110 passes.

The spools 86 may be carried on a. removable shaft 86a, in brackets 86h, or these and the spools 88 may be carried by any other appropriate supporting means.

The roller S3 is adjustably mounted in forwardly and rearwardly slidable bearings 83a, and adjusting screws 83 may be turned for effecting adjustment of this roller.

The guide-ring 72 is supported by parallel arms 72n which are slidable in tubular elements 72b, for eecting adjustment of the guide-ring, screws 72c being provided to secure the guide-ring in its adjustments.

Each spool holder 66 is preferably of the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and includes a tubular journal a, a pivotal joint a spool-tensioning spring 0 and washer (Z, and an adjustable spool-securing end e, the latter being held in its spool-securing position by a fiat link f and a contractile spring g. One end of the spring is secured in the tubular journal by any appropriate means, and its other end is secured to the link f. The other end of the link f is pivoted in the tubular member c, and a slot 7L is provided so the part e can be swung into the broken line position of Fig. 7 after it has been pulled out sufficiently against the resistance of the spring c. lVhen in the broken line position, it permits the spools to be passed thereover and onto the journal a, and when the spool is placed on the journal a, the part e is then to be swung into the full-line position, of Fig. 8, for holding the spool against pressure of the spring c. The part a is angularly adjustable at the joint I).

It is not intended t'o limit this invention to the exact details of construction and arrangement here shown, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A machine of the character described including parallel bars, means to wind lines around these parallel bars, means to feed the wound lines along the parallel bars, means to cut the lines between the parallel bars, means to carry pairs of strands into positions for receiving sections of said lines between these strands of each pair, means to twist the strands of each pair with said cut lines therebetween, means to carry the twisted strands forward, and means to adjust the said parallel bars towards and from one another for the purpose specified.

2. The structure defined by claim 1, the second said means including a rotary element provided with a plurality of spool holders, each spool holder being provided with means to yieldingly resist unwinding movement of the spool held thereby.

3. The structure defined by claim 1, the last said means including a rotary member having right-hand and left-hand screws, and means meshing with said screws and connected respectively with said parallel bars in the relation for effecting the adjustment of the latter.

4. The structure defined by claim 1, the last said means including an adjusting shaft provided with right-hand and left-hand screws, adjusting means having internal threads meshing with said screws, and means connecting the adjusting bar respectively with said parallel bar in the relation for effecting the lateral adjustment of said parallel bars.

5. The structure defined by claim 1, carriages with which the respective parallel bars are united, tensioning wheels, and means on the said carriages for holding said tensioning wheels yieldingly against said parallel bars, the last said means including movable connections with said carriage, these connections being such that the said tensioning wheels retain their respective relations with the parallel bars during the adjusting operation of the latter.

6. The structure defined by claim 1, carriages on which said parallel bars are rigidly secured, and means to guide these carriages Cil in a straight line towards and from one another, whereby said parallel bars are moved toward and from one another while being hold by the carriages in the parallel relation. v

7. The structure defined by claim l, each of said parallel bars being longitudinally grooved, said means to feed the wound threads being driven forward in these grooves of the parallel bars, carriages on which these bars are rigidly secured, means to guide the carriages in a straight line from one anot ier and thus hold these bars parallel in all of their adjusted positions, means on the carriage for guiding the feeding means after the latter passes forward from the parallel bars, and spring-pressed means on the carriages for yieldingly holding said feeding means in the longitudinal groove.

8. rIhe structure defined by claim l, the said means to feed the wound thread including a rotary shaft, grooved wheels feather-keyed thereon and rotatable therewith, sect-ions of wire in the grooves of said wheels and movable forward thereby, these sections of wire being against the outer edges of said parallel bars, and means cooperative with the last said means of claim l for adjusting said grooved wheels axially of said rotary shaft and thereby adjusting said wire sections in accordance with the adjustments of said parallel bars.

9. In a machine of the character describe-d, the combination of two laterally adjustable bars, means to guide two strands along' these bars, means to wind lines around these bars and strands, means to guide other strands into position to be twisted with the Iirst said strands respectively and to receive said lines therebetween, means to sever said lines between said laterally adjustable bars, and means to hold said bars in their different adjusted positions.

10. In a machine of the character described, tlie combination of means to hold two strands in spaced relation, means to move said strands longitudinally, means to guide two other strands into position to be twisted respectively with the first said strands, means to twist the pairs of strands thus brought into twisting relation, means to wind lines around the first said strands, this latter means including spools and spool holders, said spool holders being angularly adjustable with respect to the rst said strands, means to co-operate with the first said strands for urging the wound lines forwar-d so the latter are brought between the twisting strands, and means to sever the wound lines.

1l. In a machine of the character described, the combination of separate bars to hold strands in spaced relation, means t-o adjust the first said means and thereby vary the distance between the strands, means to guide two other strands into position to be twisted with the first said strands respectively, means to wind lines around the iirst said strands where they are spaced by the first said means, means to move the wound lines into position to be embraced between the twisting strands, means to sever the wound lines and thus divide them into two series of line-sections and apportion such two series to the two pairs of twisting strands, and means to propel the twisting pairs of strands for the purposes specified.

l2. The structure defined by claim ll., the second said means including a rotary member having right-hand and leftehand screws, the first said means including two bars movable laterally towards and from one another, and means connect-ing said bars with said screws respectively, whereby the rotation of said rotary member effects the lateral adjustment of said bar and of strands held thereby.

13. The structure defined by claim il, the first said means including spaced bars, the severing means being between said bars and movable towards and from the respective bars alternately, and means to effect the alternate movements of the severing means, whereby the' wound lines are severed at various distances from the said bars, for the purpose specified.

14, The structure defined by claim l1, the first said means including spaced bars, said severing means including a rotary knife, and another knife which overlaps the rotary knife at apoint between said bars, so that these knives have their edges in the relation of a pair of shears.

l5. The structure defined by claim ll, the first said means including spaced bars, said severing means including a rotary k-nife, another knife which overlaps the rotary knife at a point between said bars, so that these knives have their edges in the relation of a pair of shears, and means to move these knives towards and from the respective bars alternately, whereby the wound lines are severed atvarious distances from the said bars, for the purposes specified.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means to hold strands in spaced relation, means to wind lines around said strands, means to guide other strands into twisting relation with the first said strands respectively, means to twist pairs of said strands together, means to propel the twisting strands and the wound lines and thus cause the latter to be embraced` between the twisting strands, a

rknife for severing the wound lines, an oscillatory support on which the knife is mounted, means to oscillate the support and thereby oscillate the knife for varying the lengths of the parts cut from the wound lines, and means on said oscillatory support the f and movable therewith and with said knife and operable to sharpen the knife while the latter oscillates.

17. In ay machine or" the kind described, the combination ot means to hold two strands spaced from one another, means to wind lilies around the strands spaced thereby, means to guide other lines into position to be twisted with the first said lines respectively, propelling means to move the wound lines between the twisting lines, means to sever the wound lines, said propelling means including an endless line crossing,` itselt' and forming loops for the respective first inentioned strands, and driving wheels around which these loops have itrietional engagement, each ot these loops i'rctionally engaging one ot the irst said strands tor assisting in propelling the wound lines.

18. r1`he combination ot means to hold two strands spaced trom a given plane, means to wind lines around these strands, a knife, a` device to carry the knife from one side to the other side of said plane for cutting` the wound lines into various lengths, means to secure the cut lines to said strands, a mechanism tor actuating said device, and adjustable means for stopping said device at various positions, said mechanism including a. reciprocatory rod yieldingly connected to said device, a lever, a cam-mechanism to swingsaid lever, and means for connecting said lever to said reciprocatory rod.

19. A. machine ot the character described including` parallel bars, means to wind lines around these parallel bars, means to lced the wound lines along the parallel bars, means extending between these bars for cutting` the wound lines, moans to carry pairs ot strands into position ior receiving` sccw tions od said lines between these strands ot each pair, means for twistingl these strands with said cut threads therebetween, and means to carry the twisted strands forward.

1n testimony whereof attiX my signature.

CHARLES R. KEEFER. 

